Episode Overview

Podcast: The Amazing Authorities Podcast
Host: Mitch Carson
Episode Title: Building Beyond Design: How Lance Cayko Scales Architecture, Construction & Legacy
Guest: Lance Cayko, Co-Founder of F9 Productions
Release Date: November 20, 2025

This episode features an engaging and wide-ranging interview with Lance Cayko—a multifaceted entrepreneur who’s built thriving businesses across architecture, construction, real estate development, and content creation. Host Mitch Carson dives into Lance's journey from rural North Dakota to running Colorado’s vertically integrated design-build firm, his customer-first philosophy, and his expansion into podcasting and YouTube. The conversation highlights practical lessons for becoming an “authority” by mastering communication, building legacy, and leading by example.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lance’s Unique Background & Philosophy

• Vertical Integration by Design
  Lance describes his firm's structure, emphasizing literal and metaphorical "vertical integration": their workshop sits below the architecture office, and their business model covers architecture, construction, and development.
  Quote:

  "The shop is where all of our construction stuff happens... and then above us is the architecture firm. So... we’re literally and metaphorically vertically integrated." — Lance (01:28)

• From Rural North Dakota to Colorado Authority
  Lance shares formative anecdotes about his upbringing on a farm, early disdain for tough farm labor with his father, and his first job with contractor Bruce, who gave him his first “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” experience. Quote:

  "I lasted about a week, and I go, I just can’t do this anymore. I’d rather pick up garbage than work for your dad." — Lance (08:17)

• Epiphany-driven Career Growth
  Lance’s journey: from builder to architect to real estate developer, each a conscious step to gain market edge and client control.
  Quote:

  "The word architect popped into my head… I thought, wow, I would be like unstoppable. I could out compete every general contractor, I bet." (11:00)

2. Adventures & A Passion for Challenge

• Fishing at Altitude
  Lance details his love for hiking to 12,000ft to catch trout, his “death marches,” and the satisfaction in grit and the outdoors.
  Quote:

  "I chase these majestic trout that are in the most pristine waters in the world… with the continental divide, like, 11, 12,000ft in the air. Wow." — Lance (02:51)

• Solo Pursuits and Inviting Others
  Mitch teases Lance about his drive, and Lance admits it's a mix of solo and group trips, but most can’t keep up:
  Quote:

  "I invited nine of my college buddies… only got one to show." (06:41)

3. Building & Scaling a Business

• From Layoff to Launch
  The 2008 recession catalyzed Lance’s entrepreneurial leap; after being laid off, he started his firm with a partner, growing from two to ten staff and launching three interconnected businesses (architecture, construction, and development).

• Hands-on Leadership & Subcontracting
  Lance discusses hiring, terminating, and running his firm personally alongside his business partner, choosing clients they want to build for, and the challenges of managing large, high-value residential projects.
  Quote:

  "We get to actually just procure the clients we want specifically to build. We’ll design for almost anybody… [But] the build process can be… 24, 25, 26 month[s]." (13:59)

4. The Make-or-Break Factor: Communication

• Their Number One Differentiator
  Unlike most competitors, Lance’s firm is obsessive about responsive communication.
  Quote:

  "The non-obvious stuff is we pick up the phone, we email back, we text, we communicate… sometimes in the same hour." (16:20; 16:44)

• Industry Headwinds
  Many in the industry suffer from “bad communicating”—a legacy issue that Lance is determined to buck. Quote:

  "I'd say the majority of people are still just really awful, bad communicators on the architecture and design and construction side of things." (18:33)

• Codifying Values
  F9 Productions adheres to nine core principles; “communicate” is a pillar. Quote:

  "Number four is communicate. Maybe it should be number one…" (19:07)

• Protecting Yourself: Documentation
  Both Mitch and Lance agree: always keep things in writing after phone calls to avoid disputes. Quote:

  "Otherwise they’re going to say, you said this said… Record everything." — Mitch (21:53)

5. Sharing Expertise: The Power of Podcasting

• ‘Inside the Firm’ Podcast Origins & Longevity
  Started after surviving the critical seven-year business mark, now over 700 episodes and a second show; intended to give back, document their journey, and inspire entrepreneurship. Quote:

  "Everybody who knows business knows that most businesses fail within that first seven years… We should tell our story." (22:58)

• Networking & Self-Improvement
  Podcast guesting and hosting has opened doors, forced self-review, and provided life-changing feedback. Quote:

  "It makes you a better speaker because you hear yourself and you go, I want to get rid of the ‘ums.’" (24:30)

• Milestones & Struggles
  Hitting 100 episodes was when Lance felt “all-in,” but admits even now, the work can feel like a slog. Quote:

  "Even now, a little bird will whisper in my ear sometimes and say, should we quit? Because it is… a slog sometimes." (29:00)

6. Building Authority Online

• YouTube Channel Success
  “Fishing with Lance” has nearly 50,000 subscribers. Mitch praises the commitment to such a niche. Quote:

  "We’re almost up to 50,000 subscribers." — Lance (26:53)

• Advice for Listeners
  Record yourself, review to improve public speaking, and be relentless about communication and follow-up. Quote:

  "You’ll learn much more than my coaching. You will self-coach because you’ll feel the pain…" — Mitch (24:48)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Vertical Integration:

  "So, we’re literally and metaphorically vertically integrated." — Lance (01:28)

• On Early Lessons from a Contractor:

  "I got the rich dad, poor dad experience without ever reading that book." — Lance (09:17)

• On Customer Service:

  "My word… You actually call people back?... Sometimes in the same hour." — Mitch & Lance (16:38–16:44)

• On Differentiation:

  "Treat people well because oftentimes they’ll forget a lot of the details, but they’ll remember how you made them feel." — Mitch (20:19)

• On the Reality of Podcasting:

  "100 [episodes]. That is after we hit. [At] 8 is where people quit. That’s first wave... 100 is where people start to see they reap what they’ve sown." — Mitch (28:21–29:00)

• Rubber Chicken Running Gag:

  "You shared… You got the yellow chicken. For entertainment, you get the green one." — Mitch (29:35)
  "That's why I feel like it's going to be a lucky day now, Mitch. You've got the green squeeze." — Lance (30:00)

Timestamps of Key Segments

| Segment | Description | Timestamp | |---------|-------------|-----------| | Introductions, Lance’s “edgy” office | Insights into their setup and vibe | 01:08–02:01 | | Lance’s outdoor “death marches” & trout obsession | Adventures at altitude; passion for challenge | 02:47–07:29 | | How Lance got into design/build business | Early inspiration, blueprint for vertical integration | 08:13–13:41 | | Scaling the firm, vertical integration in action | Business structure, hiring/firing subs | 13:41–14:54 | | What makes them different | Customer service, communication as differentiation | 16:20–17:12 | | The importance of follow-ups/documentation | Guarding against miscommunication | 21:23–21:53 | | Podcast journey (“Inside the Firm”) | Why, how, and lessons learned from podcasting | 22:17–25:10 | | Milestones & the “podfade” problem | The struggle to keep going; hitting 100 episodes | 28:21–29:00 | | YouTube, personal branding | “Fishing with Lance”, value of content creation | 26:53–27:36 | | Where to connect with Lance | Web, LinkedIn, YouTube and call to action | 26:24–26:54 |

Final Thoughts & Takeaways

• Legacy is Built on Grit, Service, and Communication: Lance’s journey combines technical mastery with soft skills rarely found in architecture and construction. His commitment to swift, clear, and empathetic client interaction sets a new standard for the industry.
• Don’t Underestimate Basics: The “secret sauce” is often simple: call people back, communicate clearly, document everything.
• Content Builds Authority: Sharing your story through podcasting and YouTube isn’t just marketing; it’s an accountability tool, a teaching platform, and a legacy builder.
• Persistence Pays Off: Longevity in any field (be it podcasting or business) comes from discipline, continual self-improvement, and embracing the slog on tough days.
• Humor & Humanity Matter: From playful banter about rubber chickens to frank discussions about fire clients, this episode shows that authenticity transcends expertise.

Connect with Lance Cayko

• LinkedIn: Lance Cayko
• Architecture/Construction/Development: f9productions.com
• Podcast: insidethefirmpodcast.com
• YouTube: Fishing with Lance

This summary encapsulates the episode’s flow, highlights, and lessons in a natural, engaging style faithful to the hosts’ lively rapport and hands-on wisdom.